Blooming In Nashville HSMT Magazine - Magazine - Page 29
昀氀oat. The team also honored Tim Okuma, a 1974 Cal Poly
Pomona alumnus who died in May, with his name placed on
a large, fabricated 昀氀ower on the 昀氀oat. The 74-year-old was
a dedicated supporter of the Rose Float program, especially
during Deco Week in Pasadena, where he was known to
greet students, alumni and Rose Float friends with joy and
enthusiasm.
Ryan Newton, a Cal Poly engineering and physics major,
surveys the top of the 昀氀oat from his observation post prior to
the start of the parade. During the parade, he and three other
operators are not visible.
A team of four from both schools served as the unseen 昀氀oat
operators. These included driver Sean Hanna and engine
operator Benjamin Phillips from the Pomona university.
From Cal Poly were: driver observer Ryan Newton, a
昀椀fth-year industrial engineering and physics major from
Sacramento, California; and Enzo Roberto, a computer
engineering junior and Eagle Scout from Albany, California,
who handled animation duties during the 5-1/2-mile parade
route.
Since 1949, the schools have produced scores of awardwinning entries, but 2026 marks Cal Poly universities’ mostsuccessful appearance in the annual event. According to the
Tournament of Roses, it marks the 昀椀rst Sweepstakes win for
Cal Poly universities and the seventh time a self-built 昀氀oat
has earned the award since the category was established in
1924.
The 昀椀rst Cal Poly 昀椀rst 昀氀oat was hastily assembled in three
months for $258 (about $3,400 in today’s dollars) in the
waning days of 1948. Since receiving its 昀椀rst Award of
Merit on New Year’s Day 1949, entries have grown in size
and sophistication. And along the way they’ve earned 64
awards, including the 2025 Leishman Public Spirit Award,
which recognizes the most outstanding 昀氀oral presentation
from a non-commercial participant.
Details of the 昀氀oat reveal a dense jungle made up of real
and fabricated 昀氀ora, the latter completely covered in organic
materials including dry 昀氀owers, colorful seeds and spices.
“Every year we’re just really excited to prove ourselves and
show what we can do,” Goings said. “Everyone went an extra
step beyond what we’re comfortable with having a 昀氀oat that’s
so large. We’re going to have to decorate more. We’re going
to have to build more. And so by reaching these new bounds,
we’re placing more complications on ourselves. But we are
always excited to solve these problems to show that we can
do something very spectacular and awe-inspiring.”
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